Sf. M. Procopie († 303). În timpul săpt Ap și Ev săpt a 3-a dR.Ap Rom 7,1-13; Ev Mt 9,36-38;10,1-8.

7:1-6 SET FREE FROM THE LAW
OVERVIEW: As long as persons are living their old lives they are bound to the law. But if that tie is broken by death, then the person concerned is free to bind himself or herself to someone or something else-in this case, eternal life in Christ. Without passing through death such a change is impossible, because it would mean serving two masters at once, which is analagous to adultery. The link with sin and the law must be destroyed in order for the new life to begin, but this is precisely what has happened in the case of Christians. For a Christian to go back to the law is the same thing as going back to his or her previous life of sin. Paul’s analogy of the woman and her husband is invariably interpreted, as some of the Fathers pointed out, but the general intention of the passage is clear. If we reject Christ and cling to the law, then we shall be tempted by lust and fall into sin. The new life we now live in the Spirit has changed everything. The Fathers laid great stress on this complete alteration of our circumstances. The law was not evil but it was obsolete, and therefore it had to be abandoned.
7:7-13 THE LAW AND THE POWER OF SIN
OVERVIEW: The law revealed to us that desires that we previously supposed were innocent were in fact culpable. Covetousness is a case in point. Before the law came people were living in a fool’s paradise, imagining that everything was all right. But when the law arrived they became aware of how wrong their previous actions had been. In itself the law is holy and shows us what God expects of us. But because we are sinful, the effect of this is the opposite of the one intended. The devil makes use of this and incites us to sin by transgressing the commandment. The Fathers were well aware of the psychological tendency to find in the commandments of the law a prod to disobedience, and they did not hesitate to bring out this aspect of the matter whenever they could. The law cannot cause death by itself, because it is spiritual by nature. Rather, it is our sin which does this, because we are carnal by nature. The law makes our sin worse because it makes it more obvious.
Commentary on the Gospel according to St. Matthew 9,36-38;10,1-8
9:35-38 THE NEED FOR LABORERS IN THE HARVEST
OVERVIEW: Jesus went about in all the cities, in the countryside and in the synagogues, instructing all to respond to those who attacked him not in kind but with ever greater benevolence (CHRYSOSTOM). He had compassion on them because there was no shepherd to help them reap the abundance that the Holy Spirit was providing for them. No matter how much the harvest is gathered, it abounds all the more in fruitfulness (HILARY). The potential believers are many, the well-prepared apostolic leaders are few (JEROME). Jesus himself is the Lord of the harvest (CHRYSOSTOM).
10:1-4 THE CHOOSING OF THE TWELVE
OVERVIEW: Jesus chose the lowly and despised to carry out his mission. Four were fishermen, two were publicans, and one was a traitor (CHRYSOSTOM). Even as he had healed every disease and every infirmity, he empowered his apostles so to heal (JEROME). Only after they had seen the dead raised, the sea rebuked, devils expelled, the legs of a paralytic brought to life, sins remitted, lepers cleansed, and had received a sufficient proof of his power both by deeds and words did he send them out (CHRYSOSTOM). Many of the names of the apostles had layered levels of meaning (JEROME).
10:5-15 THE MISSION AND INSTRUCTION OF THE TWELVE
OVERVIEW: The command to “go nowhere among the Gentiles” was given before the resurrection, whereas the command to “go to all the world” was given after the resurrection (JEROME). They were being sent first to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, who raged against them with the tongues and jaws of wolves and vipers (HILARY). Jesus wished to offer the proclamation of the coming kingdom first to the Jews, and only then would it be offered to the Gentiles (GREGORY THE GREAT). The radical obedience of the apostles exhibits their greatness (CHRYSOSTOM). The deeds of the apostles make their words even more credible (JEROME). Whatever impairment Adam’s body had received from his encounter with Satan, Jesus empowered the disciples to wipe away through their sharing in his power (HILARY). We are to leave all things behind as we enter upon holy ground (JEROME). All treasure on earth is detrimental for this journey. The garment of Christ is all we will ever need (HILARY). You will be given food in due season insofar as you are worthy of it; you will be worthy of it if you ask for nothing beyond mere necessities (CHRYSOSTOM). Inquire in each town as to who is worthy, and stay with them (HILARY). History teaches us the radical precariousness of all political systems. Their ruins teach us that they are not to be loved (GREGORY THE GREAT).